Houston Alexander's 2007 entrance into the UFC was a thunderclap. He blasted out Keith Jardine and Alessio Sakara with back-to-back first-round knockouts. Those performances, plus a nasty scowl and a thickly-muscled, prison yard-style physique, had the hype machine on full power for the UFC’s newest star. Unfortunately for Alexander, the next three years would be difficult professionally, as he would go on to lose five of his next six fights, including four in the UFC, to drift into smaller promotions after bursting onto the scene in such dramatic fashion.

Alexander still has many fans, particularly those who took the time to learn that beneath the veneer of a mean, brash thug, Houston Alexander was a caring family man and a respected training partner. Unfortunately for Alexander, however, the UFC hype around him grew so great so fast that he has become an example of media promotion overshadowing long-term viability as a contender.